Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and other specified anxiety disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are related to any in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board denied a rating of over 20 percent for left ankle disability and a rating of over 50 percent for mental disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood; degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine; and/or status post balloon dilation with mild dysphagia, including obesity as an intermediate step. As such, the claim for secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety) is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in duty to assist and a need for clarification regarding the opinion of the March 2022 VA examiner. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, is being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in pre-decisional duty to assist and for additional evidence to be considered. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, anxiety and depression, and bilateral hearing loss are being reviewed.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood results in occupational and social impairment, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that there are errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist and remands are required for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a skin disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and insomnia.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and requires a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development regarding his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The initial rating for unspecified anxiety disorder with alcohol dependence remains denied.

The Veteran's disability rating for insomnia disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and features of depression was restored to 50 percent effective October 19, 2021. A 70 percent rating was granted for the period from November 10, 2020, to April 1, 2022. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating since April 2, 2022, is denied. An effective date of November 10, 2020, was granted for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted service connection. The claim for secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, related to his Parkinson's disease, is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate, with anxious distress, anxiety, insomnia, bipolar disorder, and adjustment disorder with depression. The claim is based on the Veteran's in-service symptoms and post-service treatment records.

The Veteran's headaches, GERD, and severe anxiety are being remanded for further review due to potential service connection under the PACT Act. The VA will attempt to obtain private treatment records from Dr. F. and provide a VA examination for GERD.

The Veteran's initial rating for unspecified anxiety disorder was reduced from 50% to 30%, but the reduction was improper. The Board has now granted a 70% rating effective October 19, 2021.

New and relevant evidence has been submitted to readjudicate the claim for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, PTSD, and depression is denied.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of voiding condition, nocturia, hematuria and unspecified trauma disorder with anxiety due to the lack of formal or informal claims prior to September 25, 2018.

The Veteran's service connection for OSA is granted, while the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.